Alphonse Island is part of the Alphonse Group that extends 16km from North to South and comprises three islands: Alphonse in the North the majestic Bijoutier in the middle so named for its jewel-like beauty, and St. Francois in the South, named after Saint-Francois de Sales. Each of the islands offers guests turquoise lagoons frequented by turtles and, at low tide, the giant blue mud crab. The sky teems with terns and frigate birds.
By air from Mahe Island the flight will take approximately 60 minutes and with daily flights, Alphonse Island Resort offers guests the space and comfort of paradise. The colonial style rooms are 'A-frame' bungalows with thatched roof and built on stilts in traditional fashion, each designed to blend seamlessly with their tropical environment and each affording a vista of the ocean. Tastefully styled and furnished, all rooms are equipped with the usual facilities including an outdoor African Style shower. The Executive Villas have the same style and again elegantly furnished but generally more spacious.
There are numerous activities available for guests to enjoy, sensitively located to avoid comprising the tranquil atmosphere of the hotel. These include a range of water-sports, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and fly fishing. Canoes are the best way to discover the Alphonse Island lagoon whilst indoor games (scrabble, chess) will keep you entertained. Pedalos, sailing, snorkeling equipment, windsurfing and the rackets for their tennis courts are all activities that Alphonse provide at no additional cost.
"Dive the walls on Alphonse Island" Alphonse Island Resort is a "must" for "Certified Divers", who will discover exceptional walls, giant gorgonians and an extraordinarily rich underwater landscape. Dive sites are not further away than a half an hour boat ride. The diving facilities of the Centre are staffed by PADI qualified professional instructors and dive masters. Diving for beginners as well as for certified divers is provided on Alphonse. The diving-club is equipped to welcome upto 15 divers with new Scubapro equipment.
St Francois Lagoon is a thirty minute boat trip from Alphonse Island. The lagoon is one of the world's premier fly-fishing locations. Alphonse Island is well positioned for excellent Deep Sea Fishing. All the fishing sites can be reached in under thirty minutes and teem with fish: Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Barracuda, Dorados and Wahoos will be found in a typical day's catch.
Excursions to nearby islands, round-trips, sunset cruises, snorkeling trips and bottom fishing are available.
http://www.justseychelles.com
Alphonse Island Holiday
Caribbean Islands
When making a decision to go on holiday to the Caribbean Islands you can easily be spoilt for choice, with over 7000 islands, islets, reefs and cays in the region, the Caribbean islands are an island chain stretching up to 2,500 miles long and 160 miles wide, enclosing the Caribbean Sea. Caribbean Islands holidays offer fine white sandy beaches, palm trees, warm translucent waters and a wonderful climate. You also get a wide choice on what type of holidays in the Caribbean Islands you're after, whether you fancy the vibrant nightlife in the Dominican Republic or something a little more traditional in somewhere like Nevis or parts of the Grenadines.
When visiting the Caribbean Islands the ideal trip would always include soft white beaches, beautifully warm seas and a wonderful all year round tropical sunny climate, with a wide variety in terms of style and culture from Aruba in the Dutch Antilles to English-speaking islands like the Bahamas and Barbados. The Dominican Republic and Margarita Island have a real Latin American feel and the islands of Jamaica and Cuba are truly exceptional in terms of character and culture. Mexico shows that you don't need to be on an island to enjoy the enchanting experience of the Caribbean Islands and the friendly people; romantic locations and stylish accommodation also make the Caribbean Islands a favoured choice for honeymoons. Whatever you want from a dream Caribbean Islands holiday, it has it all; sun, sea, sand and secluded spots to unwind are just waiting for you.
Getting there and getting around
Flights to the Caribbean Islands mostly operate from major UK airports such as Manchester, Gatwick, and Glasgow. Caribbean flights range from about 8 to 10 hours depending on your chosen destination. When booking a Caribbean Islands package holiday, coach transfers are usually included and if you've gone for a tailor made holiday, taxis are readily available at most airports to take you to your resort. To view the Caribbean's natural breathtaking surroundings it can be sometimes more worthwhile to book excursions such as boat trips and jeep safari tours with your holiday representative to get the most from your Caribbean Islands holiday destination.
Things to do
With so much variety at travel.co.uk, it's hard not to find your perfect Caribbean Islands holidays, whether it be to somewhere like Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba or Jamaica, you can't fail to enjoy this paradise world. The Caribbean offers fantastic diving, sailing, water sports, hiking, horse riding, ecotourism and wildlife. Caribbean Islands carnivals are renowned, with festivals right throughout the year, packed with music, dancing and street parades. Each island has its own individual carnival and being part of the lively atmosphere is an unforgettable experience and a true insight into the Caribbean Islands culture. The main holiday destinations in the Caribbean Islands are Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Bahamas, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, Tobago, St Lucia, Margarita Island, Cuba and Mexico.
Food and drink
Food and drink in the Caribbean Islands reflects the colourful vibrant life and culture of the local people; the local produce forms the staple diet, fresh and nutritious, the locally produced rum is a must to try whilst lazing on the beach. From traditional rice and beans to luxurious all inclusive hotel cuisine, it is all on offer on holidays in the Caribbean Islands. Cuisines from all over the world are also served up in holidays to the Caribbean Islands, including Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern and other international tastes such as fast food outlets.
New Caledonia Island
Where is New Caledonia
New Caledonia is located in the western section of the South Pacific between Vanuatu and Australia. Travel to New Caledonia is easy - just 2 hours 30 minutes flight from Sydney so is a convenient holiday destination for many Australians and New Zealanders. New Caledonia has seven islands, comprising the very large cigar-shaped island of Grande Terre, while the others are much smaller offshore islands. Most tourism activity is on the western side of the main island, with the capital Nouméa on the southern end of this coastline. It was colonialised by the French in the mid-19th century and has been likened to a South Pacific version of the Riviera, with modern hotel accommodation, fine restaurants, and smart boutiques.
New Caledonia is unique in that instead of a volcanic origin, it was actually a segment of the southern continent that separated in eons past. Grande Terre is the third largest island in the South Pacific after PNG and New Zealand. Latitude 19° - 23° south and longitude 158° - 172° east.
Getting to New Caledonia: Distances are 1,500 km from Australia, 1,700 km from New Zealand, 5,000 km from Tahiti, 7,000 km from Japan, 10,000 km from the West Coast of the USA and 20,000 km from France.
New Caledonia Attractions
What New Caledonia has to offer
* Well-established New Caledonia tourism infrastructure
* New Caledonia lodging and vacation rentals include a wide range of resorts, hotels, and other options from low-cost up to 5-star. Suitable for honeymoons, weddings, family and budget travelers. Many great specials and packages, including all inclusive packages.
* French style cafés and fine New Caledonia restaurants feature many different cuisines.
* Boutiques and Parisian style designer label shops
* Easy access from Australia's east coast
* Flora, Fauna and Marine species unique to New Caledonia
* White sandy New Caledonia beaches and Mountain Retreats
* Grande Terre has a fringing reef forming the largest lagoon in the world
* Opportunity to explore indigenous traditional Melanesian Kanak culture on the eastern side of Grande Terre
* Mostly English is spoken. A few words of French can be fun to employ! Melanesian language is also heard.
* A vast array of New Caledonia activities, watersports and adventure travel
* New Caledonia's semi-tropical climate makes it perfect for those who find the full tropical climate a bit warm and humid.
There are many more unique and interesting features of New Caledonia to explore and enjoy
Bonjour and Welcome to Nouvelle Caledonie (New Caledonia) !
